You may qualify for an Equifax payment estimated at $95 to $280 if your Equifax credit score sent to a lender between March 17 and April 8, 2022 was wrong. The case is a Fair Credit Reporting Act class action, a federal law case about accuracy of consumer credit reports.
Equifax agreed to a $100 million common fund to settle In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation, No. 1:22-cv-3072. According to Gibbs Mura via BusinessWire, the lawsuit alleges a 2022 coding error misreported scores for about 4 million people in the settlement announcement.
Official resources:
- Check eligibility on Money’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
- Read the original report from Creditandcollectionnews — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
Table of Contents
- Who qualifies for this settlement?
- How do you check your status?
- How much will eligible claims receive?
- How do you file by December 28, 2026?
- When will payments arrive?
Who qualifies for this settlement?
The class covers U.S. consumers whose Equifax score or related attribute went to a third party during March 17-April 8, 2022 and differed from the correct value.
That difference is measured under Equifax's OMS analysis, described on the official settlement site. You do not need to prove you were denied credit. You need to be in that reporting group and file a valid claim.
- Received an email or letter about the settlement naming you as a class member.
- Applied for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or other credit in late March or early April 2022.
- Believe your lender pulled an Equifax score during that window.
How do you check your status?
Start with any notice you received. According to Money, consumers notified by email or mail are class members under Equifax records, as explained in its eligibility guidance. Check spam and junk folders for messages from the administrator.
Search for Equifax, settlement, and Fair Credit Reporting Act. Use only the official settlement website or the listed settlement administrator. Do not enter your Social Security number on copycat claim sites, text links, or social media ads.
How much will eligible claims receive?
Valid claimants will share the fund in equal pro-rata cash payments. According to Money, current estimates place each share at $95 to $280 in its payment breakdown. The final amount depends on how many valid claims are filed.
More claims means a smaller check. Fewer claims means a larger check within available funds. Attorney fees, administration costs, and service awards come from the same $100 million. Your check is the remainder divided equally among approved claimants.
How do you file by December 28, 2026?
Eligible consumers must submit a valid online claim or postmark a paper claim by Dec. 28, 2026 through the official site.
According to Credit and Collection News, that deadline controls whether you get paid in its filing instructions. Keep a copy or screenshot of your confirmation. Update your address with the administrator if you move.
- Go to EquifaxFairCreditReportingSettlement.com and choose file a claim.
- Enter the notice ID from your letter or email, if you have one.
- Provide current mailing address and contact information.
- Submit online, or mail the paper form with a Dec. 28 postmark.
When will payments arrive?
Payment is not immediate. Judge Leigh Martin May in the Northern District of Georgia granted preliminary approval Aug. 17, 2026, with a final fairness hearing Jan. 22, 2027 at 2 p.m.
in Atlanta. The court must grant final approval before any money moves. Appeals can add months of delay after that decision. The $95-$280 estimate can rise or fall, and Equifax denies wrongdoing under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. File now, then watch the official site for the approval and distribution schedule.